Tool handles



y 28, 1957 c. D. GOVAN, JR 2,793,902

TOOL HANDLES Filed May 25, 1953 IO T, F g I l I 4 l Q If a i I a H will!!! Fi g3 5 E d n2 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 U Zmventor Cliffon D. GovanJf attorney United States PatentO TOOL HANDLES Clifton D. Govan, Jr., Denver, Colo.

Application May 25, 1953, Serial No. 357,175

Claims. (Cl. 294--57) This invention relates totools, and more particularly to tool handles which may be used for more than one tool, such as rakes, hoes, forks and the like.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a .novel tool construction; to provide such a tool construc- Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a condensed top plan view of a tool'constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front end of the tool of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation, simi lar to a portion of Fig. 2, but with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction more clearly;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary cross-sections, similar to a portion of Fig. 5, but illustrating alternative forms of attaching clips.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a tool construction of this invention may be embodied in a tool having an elongated handle H and a shank S, which is provided'with a tool T, such as a rake, as shown, but for which a hoe, fork, shovel, spade or any otherdesired type of tool .may be substituted. Handle H may be tubular and formed of metal, particularly relatively thin walled tubular stock so as to be light in weight and therefore more easily handled, or may be wooden and provided with a metal ferrule or sleeve of similar stock, extending beyond the wood at the lower end. Also, handle H may have a length comparable to the handle of a conventional rake or hoe, or may be shorter, and also may be provided with 'a hand grip 10, such as conventional for a spading fork 'or the like and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The shank S 'and handle H are readily attachable together, and also detachable from one another, 'so that a difiFerent tool may be substituted when desired.

To provide a readily detachable connection between the handle H and shank S, the shank may be provided with a well 12 extending thereinto from its upper end, as in Fig. 3, and at the mouth of well 12, two or more radially spaced projections or lugs 13 may extend inwardly, for a purpose described later. The handle H is normally pushed away from the shank S by suitable resilient means, such as a comparatively heavy coil spring 14 which is received in the well 12 and may be attached to the inner end of handle H, as by a clip 15, spot welded or otherwise suitably attached to the inner end of the handle. The pressure of spring 14 holds a rigid link or loop 16, on each side of the tool, in engagement with a hook 17 attached to handle H, each hook 17 conveniently being formed from flat stock, inserted in a slot and welded, brazed, or otherwise suit-ably attached to the metal of the handle. If desired, the two hooks 17 may be formed as a single piece, extending transversely through the handle, or each hook 17 may be welded or otherwise suitably attached to the outside of the handle.

At their opposite ends, each loop 16 may be pivotally mounted on an ear 18, attached to shank S and provided with a hole through which loop 16 extends. As will be evident, loops 16 may be connected to and disconnected from hooks 17 by throwing the loops inwardly or outwardly, as the case may be, while spring 14 is compressed, as by pushing downwardly on handle H while tool T rests on the ground. As will also be evident, loops 16 and hooks 17 form a solid connection between the handle H and shank S, resisting a pull tending to pull the handle out, such a pull being the principal force transmitted between the handle and the tool in using a hoe, rake, and the like. The connection between the loops 16 and hooks 17 also tends to resist torsional forces or twisting, and the portion of the handle H received in well 12 resists bending forces, as when a blow is struck with a hoe.

An additional connection between the handle and shank is provided, which not only tends to stabilize the connection but facilitates the attachment and detachment of the loops 16 and hooks 17. Such a connection may include a pair of oppositely disposed, longitudinal slots 20 which extend from the. end of handle H and terminate in key or bayonet slots 21, i. e. transverse slots with a short ear adjacent the longitudinal passage 20. Slots 20 cooperate with lugs 13, to guide the handle to proper radial position when it is inserted in the shank, while bayonet slots 21 cooperate with lugs 13 to resist torsion and bending. In addition, bayonet slots 21 cooperate with lugs 13 in holding spring 14 in a compressed position, preparatory to slipping loops 16 onto hooks 17. As will be evident, to attach handle Hto shank S, loops 16 of course being disconnected, the end of handle His inserted in well 12 with the handle turned so that lugs 13 will engage longitudinal slots 20. Then, handle H is pushed into the shank S, this being conveniently done'while tool T rests on the ground, and asv soon as lugs 13 reach the inner end of slots 20, the handle is given a slight twist, so that lugs 13 will move into the bayonet slots 21 and, upon release of the handle, the spring 14 will remain in a compressed :In disconnecting the handle H from the shank S, pressure on the handle H, conveniently while toolT rests on the ground, will move the handle into the shank enough to another grip may be taken on the handle, the lugs 13 in slots 21 preventing the handle from being projected out of the shank by the spring 14 when the handle is released to obtain the other grip, as with both hands. Then, the spring may be compressed slightly and the handle turned, after which the handle may be permitted to move out of the shank. It will be evident, of course,

that after release of the loops 16, the handle may be turned and removed, but the ability to use both hands for turning and releasing the handle permits persons with less strength to disconnect the handle without undue difiiculty.

It will be understood, of course, that various changes may be made in the tool construction of this invention. For instance, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, other types of connecting links may be utilized. Thus, as in Fig. 6, a bracket 25 may be attached to the shank S (on opposite sides thereof), and the inverted U-shaped link 26 may be provided with a laterally and outwardly extending end 27 at each side, each adapted to fit into a hole in one side of the bracket. The opposite end of link 25 may, of course, be similar to the corresponding end of loop 16 of Figs. 2 and 3, so as to engage the hook on the handle. Or, as in Fig. 7, the ends '29 of each inverted U-shaped link 30 may extend outwardly and then inwardly so as to extend radially through holes 31 in shank S, with the extreme end 32 being riveted over for more secure attachment. The loops 16 of Figs. 2 and 3 are, of course, closed loops similar to a chain link but may be made from a single piece of wire stock, although it therefore may be desirable to weld the meeting ends together after insertion through the hole in an ear 18. Links 26 of Fig. 6 may be bent to. shape from a single piece of wire stock, and do not require additional welding or riveting after insertion in bracket 25. Ears 18 of Fig. 5 and brackets 25 of Fig. 6 involve Welding or similar operations for attachment to shank S, while holes 31 in shank S eliminate attachment of an ear or bracket, although riveted ends 32 will require an additional operation. As will be evident, either loop 16 may move through about 180, while bracket 25' of Fig. 6 tends to limit pivotal movement of link 26, although sufiicient movement to clear hooks 17 is readily obtained. The movement of link 30 in holes 31 of Fig. 7 also tends to be limited, and holes 31 are therefore preferably sufliciently larger than the diameter of the link stock, to permit sufiicient latitude of movement.

The slots 20 and 21 should be in such radial positions that loops 16, or links 26 or 30, are aligned with hooks 17, as by alignment of lugs 13 with ears 18 or corresponding parts of the alternative constructions. However, the radial position of slots 20 and 21 may be varied, with corresponding changes in the position of lugs 13.

It will be understood, of course, that other types of connections may be utilized, as long as the handle and shank are adequately held together, and that slot 20 may extend angularly rather than longitudinally. Also, the various ears, hooks, lugs, and the like may be formed integrally with the handle or shank, as by punching out material therefrom. It will further be understood that various other changes may be made, and that other embodiments of this invention may exist, all without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool construction including a relatively elongated handle formed of relatively thin walled tubular metal stock at least at its lower end and a relatively short shank provided with a tool at its lower end, the improvement comprising said handle having a pair of oppositely disposed, longitudinal slots extending upwardly from its lower end and said longitudinal slots terminating in a transverse slot with an upwardly extending ear adjacent said longitudinal slot; said shank having a well at its upper end for receiving the lower end of said handle and a pair of oppositely disposed, inwardly extending projections at the upper end, said projections having a width corresponding to said longitudinal slots; a compression spring attached to the lower end of said handle and disposed in said well when said handle and shank are connected; a hook extending laterally from said handle on each side thereof and attached thereto; and a rigid link mounted on each side of said shank for lateral movement and adapted to engage one of said hooks, said links and hooks forming releasable connecting means for limiting longitudinal movement of said handle away from said shank and resisting twisting of said handle relative to said shank.

2. A tool construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said link comprises a loop pivotally mounted at its lower end on an ear attached to and extending laterally from said shank.

3. A tool construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said link is inverted, U-shaped with each leg at its lower end terminating in a laterally extended portion; and a bracket for each link is attached to said shank, said brackets having outwardly extending sides provided with holes for pivotal attachment of said laterally extending portions of said leg links.

4. A tool construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said shank is provided with a pair of adjacent holes on opposite sides thereof; and each said link is inverted U-shape with the lower end of each leg extending laterally then radially inwardly and through one of said holes, the end of said legs being riveted over.

5. In a tool construction including a relatively elongated handle formed of relatively thin walled tubular stock at least at its lower end and a relatively short shank provided with a tool at its lower end, the improvement comprising said shank having a well at its upper end for receiving the lower end of said handle; a spring disposed in said well when said handle and shank are connected, said spring bearing between said well and said handle; interengaging means formed partly by said shank and partly by said handle for limiting relative rotation between said handle and shank during movement of said handle into and out of said shank well, and also for limiting relative longitudinal movement between said handle and shank when said spring is compressed; and releasable conuecting means mounted partly on the exterior of said shank and partly on the exterior of said handle for limiting longitudinal movement of said handle away from said shank and resisting twisting of said handle relative to said shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,294,304 Pittman Feb. 11, 1919 1,530,225 Belakoy Mar. 17, 1925 1,858,992 Hansen May 17, 1932 2,183,895 Reed Dec. 19, 1939 2,527,256 Jackson Oct. 24, 1950 2,535,816 Sigmund Dec. 26, 1950 2,565,466 Barker Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 437,239 France Feb. 12, 1912 928,506 France Dec. 1, 1947 14,080 Great Britain July 24, 1895 270,167 Great Britain May 5, 1927 457,519 Italy May 23, 1950 472,607 Italy June 26, 1952 

